And a Bottle of Rum: A History of the New World in Ten Cocktails

And a Bottle of Rum traces the history of the Americas through the lens of rum production, trade, and consumption. The narrative follows rum's evolution from a colonial-era staple to its roles in piracy, naval warfare, and modern cocktail culture. Curtis structures the book around ten signature rum drinks, using each as an entry point to explore different historical periods and cultural shifts in the Caribbean and North America. The text moves from the crude early kills-devil to the refined daiquiris and tiki drinks of the twentieth century. The book combines primary source research, historical documentation, and first-hand visits to distilleries and bars across the region. Curtis includes recipes and detailed production methods while maintaining focus on rum's broader social and economic impacts. This approach reveals how a single commodity can reflect the major forces that shaped the New World - colonialism, slavery, industrialization, and globalization. The story of rum becomes a lens for understanding the complex relationships between Europe, Africa, and the Americas.

Readers describe this as an engaging blend of rum history, Caribbean colonization, and American drinking culture. Many reviews note the book goes beyond basic rum facts to explore economics, politics, and cultural shifts. Readers appreciated: - Clear connections between rum and historical events - Details about specific cocktail origins - Writing style that balances facts with storytelling - Maritime history and pirate culture coverage Common criticisms: - Too much focus on American history vs global rum production - Some chapters feel rushed or superficial - Recipe sections could be more detailed Ratings: Goodreads: 3.9/5 (1,800+ ratings) Amazon: 4.4/5 (280+ ratings) Sample review quotes: "Makes history digestible through the lens of spirits" - Goodreads "Great storytelling but wished for more technical distilling info" - Amazon "Perfect mix of research and entertainment" - LibraryThing

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🍹 Before writing the book, author Wayne Curtis spent three years traveling throughout the Caribbean and the Americas, visiting distilleries and historic sites to research rum's complex history. 🏴‍☠️ The book reveals that colonial New England, not the Caribbean, was the center of early American rum production, with more than 150 rum distilleries operating in the region by 1774. ⚓ Unlike many spirits that began as luxury items, rum started as a working-class drink made from industrial waste—molasses was initially considered a worthless byproduct of sugar production. 🗽 George Washington served rum punch at his 1789 presidential inauguration, following a common American tradition of using rum-based drinks for significant celebrations. 🌎 Each chapter is structured around a specific rum cocktail, from the colonial-era Kill-Devil to the modern-day Mojito, using these drinks as windows into different periods of American and Caribbean history.